Poker-type game having adjustable payouts and method therefor

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for playing a poker-style game has a player making an opening wager. The player is permitted to make at least one wager to obtain at least one certain selected winning hand. The payout odds are adjusted on winning hands based on an amount of the opening wager and the at least one wager to obtain at least one certain selected winning hand. A hand of cards are then dealt to the player. The player is allowed to hold desired cards of the hand. Replacement cards are dealt to the player. One determines if a new hand of cards is a winning hand. Paying the player is based on the adjusted payout odds.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to poker-style games and methods, andmore particularly to poker-style games and methods that provideopportunities for a player to make wagers on certain selected winninghands which will adjust the posted payout odds on the selected winninghand as well as other winning hands thereby increasing playerexcitement.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The game of poker is widely played at peoples' homes and in a casinosetting. At a casino, it is played both in a traditional format, withtraditional playing cards, and in an electronic format. In theelectronic version, typically known as “video poker”, a player makes awager, pushes a button to start the game, and is then presented withfive cards shown on the video display. A player can choose to eitherkeep the cards or discard a specified number of cards and receivereplacement cards. Whether or not the player's final hand qualifies fora payment is determined according to a pay table, which is generallydisplayed on the video poker machine itself.

The best hand that a player can achieve in classic five card poker ofthe type typically played on video poker machines is a royal flush. Aroyal flush consists of an Ace-high straight, where all of the cardshave the same suit.

Many video poker players find that the basic video poker game has becomesomewhat stale and boring. In addition, many feel that the payoutsassociated with video poker are not high enough to make the gameexciting. For instance, the chances of a player achieving a royal flushare generally about 1 in 35,000. However, since the player essentiallywagers on all potential winning hands at once, the payout for a royalflush is typically no more than 800 credits or coins to every one creditor coin wagered. If the player were provided the opportunity to wager onany one selected hand(out of a large number of possible hands), in someinstances, a player could stand to win at least one hundred times whatthe player would normally win by wagering in the typical manner andachieving the same winning hand.

Furthermore, if a player is able to wager on a specific winning hand,then the posted payout odds on other winning hands should also beadjusted. For example, if a player places a wager on a royal flush, thenthe payouts associated with other winning hands (i.e., straight, flush,4 of a kind, etc) should also increase. The reason for this is that aplayer's strategy has a large effect on obtaining the specific winninghand. Thus, in the above example, if a player wagers heavily on a royalflush, the player will most likely play the optimum strategy forachieving a royal flush. As a result, the probability of the playerachieving other winning hands (i.e., straight, flush, 4 of a kind, etc)will decrease. Thus the posted payout odds for the other winning handsshould increase to encourage the player to wager on other hands as well.

Therefore a need existed to provide a video poker-style game and methodthat substantially increases payouts by providing additional wageringopportunities for the player to wager on selected winning hands. A needfurther existed to provide the highest possible payouts for theadditional wagering opportunities by adjusting the posted payout oddsbased on the player's wager, or by restricting the player's wageringoptions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, it is anobject of the present invention to provide a video poker-style game andmethod that substantially increases payouts by providing additionalwagering opportunities for the player to wager on selected winninghands.

It is another object of the present invention to provide the highestpossible payouts for the additional wagering opportunities by adjustingthe posted payout odds based on the player's wager, or by restrictingthe player's wagering options.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a method ofplaying a poker-style game comprising: making an opening wager by aplayer; permitting the player to make at least one wager to obtain atleast one certain selected winning hand; adjusting payout odds onwinning hands based on an amount of the opening wager and the at leastone wager to obtain at least one certain selected winning hand; dealinga hand of cards to the player; allowing the player to hold desired cardsof the hand; dealing replacement cards to the player; determining if anew hand of cards is a winning hand; and paying the player based on theadjusted payout odds.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a videopoker-style game is disclosed. The video poker-style game has a videodisplay adapted to display to a player a hand of cards for a poker-stylegame; means for permitting the player to make an opening wager by theplayer; means for permitting the player to make at least one wager toobtain at least one certain selected winning hand; means for permittingthe player to hold a desired number of the hand of cards; means forpermitting the player to receive replacement cards; means for displayinga payout table associated with probabilities of obtaining the at leastone selected winning hand of said game; means for displaying the payoutassociated with each said at least one wager; means for determining if awinning hand has been achieved; and means for paying the player inaccordance with the payout table.

The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of theinvention will be apparent from the following, more particular,description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, asillustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are setforth in the appended claims. The invention itself, as well as apreferred mode of use, and advantages thereof, will best be understoodby reference to the following detailed description of illustratedembodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a elevated front view of a video poker machine or terminalusing the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart depicting a number of methods of play consistentwith the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, a video poker machine terminal 10 is shown. Itsmain features include a video display 12, a plurality of hold buttons14, a draw/deal button 16, at least one bet button 18, a pay table 20,and a coin output 22. The terminal 10 should also have a paymentreceiver (not shown), through which coins, cash, payment cards, papercredits or the like may be inserted for purposes of placing a wager.

Generally, in a prior art video poker game, play is initiated by theinsertion of a payment into the payment receiver. A player willtypically then depress the bet button 18 in order to receive a displayof a hand of cards. (In some games, more than one bet button 18 isprovided, with, for example, one bet button allowing a player to bet oneamount, and another allowing a player to bet a larger or additionalamount.) After a hand of cards is displayed in the video display 12, theplayer then decides which cards he/she wants to hold and which cards areto be discard. A player indicates a hold selection for each card that isto be held by depressing the hold button 14 located directly below acard 24 that is to be held. (If a player changes his or her mind, thehold button 14 can be depressed a second time to cancel the selection.)

Once the player completes his or her hold selections, the player willdepress the draw/deal button 16 a second time. This will cause thenon-held cards 24 to be replaced with new cards. If the player has awinning hand according to the pay table 20, a payment is made and caneither be paid through the coin output 22 or simply indicated on aportion of the video display 12 as credits to be paid later.

The present invention concerns both the video poker-style game using,for example, the video poker machine on terminal 10 of FIG. 1, and thewagering options provided to the player both before play is initiatedand during the game. Referring to FIG. 2, a method of playing andwagering options of one embodiment of the game of the present inventionis illustrated. The video display 12 will display a pay table whichrelates the payouts (as a ratio of the amount paid per unit bet)associated with wagers placed on certain selected winning hands. Thefollowing table shows a preferred pay table to be used with oneembodiment of the game and method of the present invention. Changes inthe various ratios can be made, as desired, in keeping with the conceptsof this invention. TABLE 1 Royal Flush 20,000 to 1 Straight Flush 5,000to 1 Four of a Kind 300 to 1 Full House 60 to 1 Flush 60 to 1 Straight60 to 1 Three of a Kind 8 to 1 Two Pair 3 to 1 Jacks or Better 2 to 1

The player will then wager on the certain selected winning hand or handsof his or her choice. This can be done in any desired form, includingfor example having a touch-sensitive region on, for example, the videodisplay 12, or on the pay table 20 so that the player can touch thedifferent section or sections of the pay table 20 to select the winninghand or hands on which he or she chooses to wager, as well as selectinghow much to wager on each selected hand. Software in the terminal 10 isused to recognize that such wagers have been made and the amount of anypayout due to the player depending on the amount wagered. As the playermakes these wagers, for example, the video display 12 or the pay table20 will display the potential payouts associated with each wager shouldthe player obtain or achieve that certain selected winning hand. Playwill then continue as described above in prior art games with the playerreceiving a hand of cards, deciding which cards to hold, and receivingreplacements for the non-held cards. After play is completed, softwarein the terminal 10 will determine if a winning hand has been achieved(i.e. a pair of Jacks or better) and also if a wager was registered onthe player obtaining the certain selected winning hand or hands thatoccurred. If such a wager was registered, a payment is made according tothe payout odds in Table 1, or according to other pre-set payout oddsacceptable to the casino and any applicable gaming authority.

Still referring to FIG. 2, a method of play of another embodiment of thegame of the present invention is illustrated. There is a concern thatsome casino operators might not want to provide the wagering option ofthe present invention unless the player has also wagered in thetraditional manner of prior art games as described above. To addressthis, optionally, a player can be required to register such atraditional wager prior to receiving the wagering option of the presentinvention (to pre-select a winning hand or hands). That this step isoptional is illustrated by dashed-lines for this portion of the flowchart of FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 3, another method of an embodiment of the game of thepresent invention is illustrated. This method is similar to thatdescribed above. A player will wager in the traditional manner of priorart games as described above. Once, the player makes the traditionalwager, the player will receive the wagering option to pre-select awinning hand or hands. There will be certain restrictions on what aplayer may wager on selected winning hands. For example, a player willgenerally not be allowed to place credits on a selected winning handwithout first placing a certain minimum traditional wager. Largertraditional wagers will allow more credits to be placed on a selectedwinning hand.

Other restrictions may include, only allowing a player to place a singlecredit wager on a first select winning hand. The player may placeanother credit on the first selected winning hand only after placinganother credit on a second select winning hand. For example, if a playermakes a one credit wager on obtaining a royal flush, the player mustwager another credit on a second winning hand (for example, a straight)prior to placing another credit wager on the royal flush. Anotherrestriction may include, having the maximum allowable wager on aselected winning hand being a function of the total amount wagered onall other selected winning hands.

Once the traditional wager is made, the video display 12 will display apay table which relates the payouts (as a ratio of the amount paid perunit bet) associated with wagers placed on certain selected winninghands. The player will then wager on the certain selected winning handor hands of his or her choice. This can be done in any desired form,including for example having a touch-sensitive region on, for example,the video display 12, or on the pay table 20 so that the player cantouch the different section or sections of the pay table 20 to selectthe winning hand or hands on which he or she chooses to wager, as wellas selecting how much to wager on each selected hand.

Software in the terminal 10 is used to recognize that wagers on selectwinning hands are made. Once this is done, the payout odds will beadjusted. The adjustment on the payout odds may be done in severaldifferent manners. First, the payout odds on the select winning handsmay be adjusted. The adjustment on the certain select winning hands areadjusted by the software. The adjustment on the payout for selectwinning hands is based on the amount wagered in the traditional manner.Thus, larger wagers in a traditional manner will increase the payoutodds on the select winning hands. For example, a player makes atraditional wager of 5 credits. The player then makes a wager of 1credit on a select winning hand. The software will then produce a payoutschedule for the traditional winning hands as well as the select winninghand. If the player had made a traditional wager of 8 credits, then thesoftware would have produce a payout schedule for the traditionalwinning hands as well as the select winning hand wherein the payoutschedule for the select winning hand would be higher. Thus, largerwagers in a traditional manner will increase the payout odds on theselect winning hands.

Alternatively, the adjustment to the payout odds may be done to thenon-selected winning hands. For example, a player makes a normaltraditional wager of 5 credits. The player then makes another wager of 1credit on a select winning hand (for example a royal flush). Since theplayer made a wager on a select winning hand, the posted payout odds onthe non-selected winning hands will be adjusted. The reason for this isthat a player's strategy has a large effect on the probability ofwinning the selected winning hand. In the above example, if a playerbets on obtaining a royal flush, the player will most likely play theoptimum strategy for achieving a royal flush. As a result, theprobability of the player obtaining other winning hands that were notselected will decrease. Thus, the posted payout odds for the otherwinning hands that were not selected will increase to encourage theplayer to wager on additional hands, as well as provide the highestpossible payouts.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described withreference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood bythose skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in formand details may be made therein without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention.

1. A method of playing a poker-style game comprising: making an opening wager by a player; permitting the player to make at least one wager to obtain at least one certain selected winning hand; adjusting payout odds on all winning hands based on an amount of the opening wager and the at least one wager to obtain at least one certain selected winning hand; dealing a hand of cards to the player; allowing the player to hold desired cards of the hand; dealing replacement cards to the player; determining if a new hand of cards is a winning hand; and paying the player based on the adjusted payout odds.
 2. The method of claim 2 wherein determining if a new hand of cards is a winning hand further comprises: determining if the player has placed a wager on a certain selected winning hand; determining if the new hand of the player is the same as the certain selected winning hand; and determining if the new hand of the player is the same as a traditional winning hand in video poker.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein permitting the player to make at least one wager to obtain at least one certain selected winning hand further comprises permitting the player to make at least one wager to obtain at least one certain selected winning hand after the player has made an opening wager above a predetermined amount.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein permitting the player to make at least one wager to obtain at least one certain selected winning hand further comprises permitting the player to place a second wager on the at least one certain selected winning hand only after placing a first wager on a second certain select winning hand.
 5. A video poker-style game comprising: a video display adapted to display to a player a hand of cards for a poker-style game; means for permitting said player to make an opening wager by the player; means for permitting the player to make at least one wager to obtain at least one certain selected winning hand; means for permitting the player to hold a desired number of the hand of cards; means for permitting the player to receive replacement cards; means for displaying a payout table associated with probabilities of obtaining the at least one selected winning hand of said game; means for displaying the payout associated with each said at least one wager; means for determining if a winning hand has been achieve; and means for paying the player in accordance with the payout table.
 6. The video poker-style game of claim 5 wherein the player is only permitted to make said at least one wager when said player had also made a wager on obtaining any non-selected winning hand.
 7. The video poker-style game of claim 5 wherein the player is only permitted to place a second wager on the at least one certain selected winning hand only after placing a first wager on a second certain select winning hand.
 8. The video poker-style game of claim 5 wherein the means for determining if a winning hand has been achieve further comprises: means for determining if the player has a hand which is the same as the certain selected winning hand; and means for determining if the player has a hand that is the same as a traditional winning hand in video poker.
 9. A method of playing a video style poker game comprising: providing a video display adapted to display to a player a hand of cards for a poker-style game; making an opening wager by a player; permitting the player to make at least one wager to obtain at least one certain selected winning hand; adjusting payout odds on all winning hands based on an amount of the opening wager and the at least one wager to obtain at least one certain selected winning hand; displaying a hand of cards to the player on the video display; allowing the player to hold desired cards of the hand by pressing hold buttons underneath the desired cards; dealing replacement cards to the player; displaying the replacement cards on the video display; determining if a new hand of cards is a winning hand; and paying the player based on the adjusted payout odds.
 10. The method of claim 9 wherein determining if a new hand of cards is a winning-hand further comprises: determining if the player has placed a wager on a certain selected winning hand; determining if the new hand of the player is the same as the certain selected winning hand; and determining if the new hand of the player is the same as a traditional winning hand in video poker.
 11. The method of claim 9 wherein permitting the player to make at least one wager to obtain at least one certain selected winning hand further comprises permitting the player to make at least one wager to obtain at least one certain selected winning hand after the player has made an opening wager above a predetermined amount.
 12. The method of claim 9 wherein permitting the player to make at least one wager to obtain at least one certain selected winning hand further comprises permitting the player to place a second wager on the at least one certain selected winning hand only after placing a first wager on a second certain select winning hand. 